NHL DFS Breakdown (1/22)

Welcome! We have a 6 game slate on hand tonight with lock at 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT. In this article, I will detail my top plays, good plays, and value plays. I will include both Draftkings and FanDuel pricing for your convenience. Now let’s take a look at the 4 matchups tonight and their start times (Eastern Time):

Unlike yesterday, I am a fan of this slate with some favorable matchups. All of these games have some serious potential. Chad Johnson is starting in net tonight for the Sabres against the Flames which boosts Calgary higher than they already were. I still love the Colorado line with MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog. Now Let’s dive in to the plays of the day!

CENTERS:

Top Center Plays:

Nathan MacKinnon @ Toronto Maple Leafs ($8300 FD/$7600 DK)

A lot of people today have been saying that they aren’t a fan of MacKinnon and the Avalanche on the road but I personally still love them. Toronto is 1-4 in their last 5 games and even when they win on home ice, they still allow multiples goals against so Mackinnon is still my top center on the night.

Matthew Barzal @ Arizona Coyotes ($6300 FD/$6500 DK)

Barzal has been a very good fantasy contributor this season and especially in his last 10 games where he is averaging 4.3 DK points and 20 FD points. The Coyotes have been playing better as of late but the Islanders and Barzal line should be able to sneak a few by Raanta.

Sean Monahan vs Buffalo Sabres ($7600 FD/$6800 DK)

Monahan has racked up an impressive four goals and 12 points in his last 10 games. Being on a line with Johnny Hockey and Michael Ferland tonight against the Sabres is the best scenario for a great DFS performance.

Good Center Plays:

John Tavares @ Arizona Coyotes ($8500 FD/$7800 DK)

Tavares has been on the score sheet every game except for one in their last 7, racking up four goals and seven points in that span. He has been one of the best DFS NHL forwards this season with 26 goals and 57 points in 48 games. While the Coyotes have been playing a little better as of late, the Islanders should score multiple goals tonight.

Jonathan Toews vs Tampa Bay Lightning ($7000 FD/$6300 DK)

Toews started out the season very slow but has picked it up in the last 20 games. He has goals, 4 assists and 34 Shots on goal in his last 10 games played. Chicago will be relatively low owned tonight with a matchup against the Lightning.

Auston Matthews vs Colorado Avalanche ($7500 FD/$7100 DK)

Matthews has 20 goals and 35 points through 38 games. The only reason he makes my article is because the Leafs are playing at home. It’s not a favorable matchup against the Avalanche who are on a 9 game win streak, but Matthews should manage a decent fantasy night.

Value Centers:

Matthew Tkachuk vs Buffalo Sabres ($5900 FD/$5400 DK)

Tkachuck has been very hot as of late with 5 goals and 5 assists in his last 10 games while also adding 26 SOG. I don’t know how much I can express that I love the Flames tonight against the Sabres.

Mikko Koivu vs Ottawa Senators ($5700 FD/$5200 DK)

Koivu has not been a very valuable center for the Wild but tonight I actually like him against the Senators. Not my top choices but he should exceed his value tonight.

Yanni Gourde @ Chicago Blackhawks ($4300 FD/$3800 DK)

Gourde is a very cheap option tonight with a matchup against the Blackhawks. Jeff Glass will draw the start for the hawks with a 3.34 GAA in his last 6 games.

WINGERS:

Top Winger Plays:

Johnny Gaudreau vs Buffalo Sabres ($7100 FD/$7400 DK)

Johnny Hockey versus the Buffalo Sabres.. Does it get any better than that? No it doesn’t! With 2 goals and 11 assists in his last 10 games, I look for Gaudreau to find the score sheet multiple times tonight against the Sabres.

Mikael Granlund vs Ottawa Senators ($7100 FD/$6400 DK)

Granlund isn’t expected to miss anytime with his illness and should be in the lineup tonight, which is good for the Wild because he has 5 goals and 7 assists in his last 10 games. Averaging 5 DK points in that span and with a home matchup against the Senators, I like him a lot.

Patrick Kane vs Tampa Bay Lightning ($8400 FD/$7100 DK)

Kane has been on fire for the Blackhawks lately with 5 goals and 7 assists in his last 10 games while adding on 38 shots on goal. Even though it’s a matchup against the Lightning, he will still see the score sheet tonight.

Good Winger Plays:

Mikko Rantanen @ Toronto Maple Leafs ($6500FD/$6600 DK)

Just like I said on MacKinnon, a lot of people think the Avalanche streak will end tonight with Mac and Rant not doing much but I feel as if they will still be on fire tonight against a Maple Leafs team who has been struggling as of late.

Jason Zucker vs Ottawa Senators ($6500 FD/$6500 DK)

Zucker has started to produce more for the Wild in his last 10 games with 3 goals and 4 assists with 33 Shots on goal. He should see the score sheet tonight along with Koivu.

Value Winger Plays:

Anthony Duclair vs Tampa Bay Lightning ($3100 FD/$4100 DK)

Duclair finds himself on the first line with Toews making him more valuable because that line has finally been finding its grove as of late except for last game. He is very cheap with high upside but is a risky play.

Anthony Beauvillier @ Arizona Coyotes ($3600 FD/$4200 DK)

Beauvillier has been on fire for the Islanders lately with 7 goals and 1 assist in his last 10 games. He is only averaging 1.9 DK points over the season but is averaging 3.6 DK points in his last 10. He is a good value play tonight against the Arizona Coyotes with his very cheap price.

DEFENSEMEN:

Top Defensemen Plays:

Mark Giordano vs Buffalo Sabres ($5900 FD/$5900 DK)

Giordano has 2 goals and 5 assists in his last 10 games while also adding 19 blocked shots and 23 SOG in that same span. I really like the Flames odds in this game on home ice against the Sabres tonight.

Jared Spurgeon vs Ottawa Senators ($5500 FD/$5500 DK)

Spurgeon has 24 points in 38 games and is an underrated fantasy contributor that is averaging 4.0 DK points in his last 10 games. Good fantasy value tonight against the Sabres at a fair price.

Good Defensemen Plays:

Dougie Hamilton vs Buffalo Sabres ($5100 FD/$5600 DK)

Hamilton and Giordano have been on a super hot streak for the Flames in their last 7 games in which they were 7-0-0 before dropping a game in a shootout to the Jets on Saturday. Against the Sabres, I like Hamilton a lot.

Erik Johnson @ Toronto Maple Leafs ($5000 FD/$5100 DK)

Johnson is thriving on the first line with MacKinnon and is averaging 4.3 DK points over his last 10 games. He is also averaging 27 minutes of ice time in that span. I look for him and the Avalanche to continue their hot streak tonight.

Value Defensemen Plays:

Jakub Chychrun vs New York Islanders ($4000 FD/$4100 DK)

Chychrun has averaged 22:18 of ice time over 18 contests. He has been one of the few good performers this season for the Yotes and he is on the first power-play unit making him more valuable against an Islanders team who gives up a lot of goals per game.

Jordan Oesterle vs Tampa Bay Lightning ($4300 FD/$4800 DK)

Oesterle has been playing so good for his cheap price. He has 3 goals, 4 assists, 22 SOG, and 24 blocked shots in 10 games. Averaging 4.0 points in that span and with Chicago finally picking it up offensively, I like him again tonight.

GOALIES:

Top Goalie Play:

Alex Stalock vs Ottawa Senators ($7500 FD/$8100 DK)

Stalock is my favorite goalie on the slate tonight. He is so cheap making him also a value play. Wild are 6-0-2 in their last eight games at Xcel Energy Center and I look for them to make it 7-0-2 with a favorable matchup against the Senators.

Good Goalie Play:

Mike Smith vs Buffalo Sabres ($8300 FD/$8400 DK)

The Flames are 7-1 in their last 8 games and are playing against a struggling Sabres team who got destroyed by the Dallas Stars in their last game 7-1. Odds are they will continue to struggle tonight giving Mike Smith an easy victory.

Value Goalie Plays:

Jonathan Bernier @ Toronto Maple Leafs ($8000 FD/$7500 DK)

Bernier has been one of the hottest goalies in the league lately and he isn’t even the true starter. With Varlamovs injury, Bernier has taken the role in the stride and is 8-0-0 and has a 1.47 GAA since taking over. Maple Leafs have not been able to get much going lately, dropping 4 out of their last 5.

*NOTE* Alex Stalock is my favorite goalie on this 6 game slate and is also considered a value play with his low price.

This article is meant to help you put together your lineup for the slate. If this helps you out tonight please post your winnings on twitter and tag me @DFSDevotee and @FanCaveDFS Thanks for reading and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on twitter!